US state backs gay marriage vote

Supporters and opponents of the bill demonstrated outside

Legislators in Massachusetts, the only US state to legalise gay marriage, have approved a measure which could allow a popular vote on whether to ban it.

Within hours they voted to reconsider the move, then again backed it.

The proposed constitutional amendment would define marriage as between one man and one woman, while banning future gay marriages.

About 8,000 same-sex couples have married since a state supreme court ruling in 2003.

The legislature voted by 134 votes to 62 against the constitutional amendment, but the measure only required 50 votes to be advanced.

It still requires approval by the next legislature to get put to the vote concurrently with elections in 2008.

Hundreds of supporters and opponents of gay marriage held rival demonstrations outside the Boston statehouse as the vote was held.